Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 476 to 500 of 1533 results

Romans 8:18-27

Sermon

King Duncan

No matter what happened to a certain gold miner he always described it as pure luck. It was a particularly bitter winter. He was nearly freezing to death, but he kept digging for gold in the granitelike ground. Finally, as the Earth thawed in the Spring and he was down to his last meager ration of food, he broke through the hard crust and dug and dug until at last he hit a box. Inside the box was a carton of canned food left behind by some earlier miner. "Boy, am I lucky." he said, "it could have been gold ...

477. Be Careful What You Call Me

Matthew 23:1-39

Sermon

King Duncan

A Jewish comedian tells about two men of his faith who met on the street. "Abe, why are you looking so sad?" asks Isaac. Abe answers: "It's my son. I sent him off to college, and now he has come back home all full of Gentile ideas. Where did I go wrong?" Isaac says: "FUNNY YOU SHOULD MENTION IT! My son, too, has come home from college, with his head all messed up, filled with Gentile ideas. There is but one course open to us. We will ask the Rabbi." So they go to the Synagogue and obtain an audience with ...

478. Eavesdropping On Eternity

Luke 9:28-36

Sermon

King Duncan

Have you ever been in a public place and found yourself eavesdropping on a conversation? Perhaps it was at the mall or on a bus or standing in the hall at school. You didn't mean to be nosy, it's just that you were the proper distance away, and you could hear every word. A few years ago, the Lexington Herald-Leader of Lexington, Kentucky, published a short list called "Classic Conversation Stoppers." If you overheard these phrases, the urge to eavesdrop would be overwhelming: For example, here's a classic ...

479. Danny Devito In A Tree

Luke 19:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

I can see actor Danny Devito playing Zacchaeus. That is, if Hollywood ever makes a movie about Zacchaeus, Devito would be perfect. Think about it. The first thing most of us think about when we think of Zacchaeus is that he was short. Vertically challenged. The second thing about Zacchaeus we know is that he was rich. Devito can handle those two characteristics easily. The third thing we know is that Zacchaeus was corrupt. How do you think he got wealthy in the first place? Think of some of the characters ...

480. When Death Is Gain

Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon

Edward Inabinet

(For a very faithful choir member who had given most of her life to singing in the church choir.) The Apostle Paul declared, "For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain." Paul loved life and loved his friends, but he knew it was better to die and be with the Lord. ________________ too felt it was time to lay aside the burden of illness and disease and to find that sorely needed rest and refreshment that only Heaven can give. While her death brings sorrow to us, it has brought victory to her. To live in ...

481. My Stress Is Killing Me! -- Is It?

Isaiah 40:1-31

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

If you have memorized much scripture, our text is probably in your repertoire: "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." This is one of those favorite texts that I've quoted a lot, referred to often, but never preached a sermon on it. So, as I close this series of sermons on the random texts that I have been tucking aside, I come to this favorite one. Newell Dwight Hillis, one of the ...

482. Baptized with Christ

Luke 3:21-38

Sermon

King Duncan

Before performing a baptism, the priest approached the young father and said solemnly, “Baptism is a serious step. Are you prepared for it?” “I think so,” the man replied. “My wife has made appetizers and we have a caterer coming to provide plenty of cookies and cakes for all of our guests.” “I don’t mean that,” the priest responded. “I mean, are you prepared spiritually?” “Oh, sure,” came the reply. “I’ve got a keg of beer and a case of whiskey." This is not exactly what the priest had in mind. Was this ...

483. Imitators of God

Ephesians 4:17--5:21

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

There are some experiences or encounters that are so solidly lodged in our memory that they continue to invade our consciousness – to haunt us – to help or to hinder our Christian walk, to call and challenge us to be more than we are. John Birkbeck is a person around whom for me a whole cluster of memories are gathered – memories that invade my immediate awareness now and then. John was a Scot Presbyterian preacher. During a part of my tenure as the World Editor of The Upper Room, he was the editor of the ...

484. The Incarnation: What and Why?

Hebrews 2:10-18

Sermon

James L. Killen

We have just remembered again the beautiful story of the birth of Jesus. We have been reminded of the miracle of the virgin birth. Most of us have been satisfied just to remember and wonder and enjoy. But there is a meaning behind that event that we need to know. Christian scripture and tradition tell us that, in the birth of Jesus, an aspect of God's own being took flesh to dwell among us as one of us. One of our favorite Christmas carols has us singing, "Veiled in flesh the God-head see; hail incarnate ...

485. Who Gives You Your Grade?

Matthew 11:25-30

Sermon

Mark Trotter

I read a book with pen in hand, my eye peeled for typographical errors. The more expensive the book, the more prestigious the publisher, the greater the joy in finding an error. Most people see me reading with a pen in hand, they think I am underlining important passages. They say, "Look, Mark's a scholar." I read with a pen so I can circle the mistakes other people make. I mark them indelibly in ink. I do this for revenge. In another church, there was a man who would meet me following the service with the ...

486. The Ladder or the Wheel

Matthew 23:1-39

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

The crucifixion of Jesus was legally performed. Jesus was tried, convicted, and punished by death according to strict Roman law. His crime was political. The proclaiming of himself as King of the Jews branded him as a dangerous proponent of treason and sedition. Herod, the Roman puppet governor of the region, was the only king in Jerusalem. But as a country under strict Roman occupation and rule, Caesar was the divine head of the state. Yet Roman law wasn't the only law under which Jesus could have been ...

487. How to Beat the Devil

Matthew 4:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

(Note: I've chosen to wait until the end of the sermon to introduce the button images - EASY button versus REJECT and RESET buttons. You may choose to introduce them much earlier.) With the Super Bowl finally out of the way, we can now focus on something really important - basketball! In basketball things change so much more quickly than in football. Partly because there are three-point shots; partly because of the trumping effect of last second foul shots; partly because the basketball court is still the ...

488. A Sourdough Sprirituality

Matthew 13:31-35

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

[To do this sermon in the best fashion, you'll need a couple things. First, find someone in your congregation or a local baker who will share with you their sourdough starter. A bowl you can use for this sermon will greatly enhance your presentation. Also, to the extent that you can, integrate their sourdough story into your sermon, replacing as much of the story below with their story as you can. Secondly, you'll need one or two bags (per service) of different kinds of bread. The easiest way of doing this ...

489. The Lamb's Book of Life

John 1:29-34

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Try flipping through the video void any day without landing in the numerical region inhabited by "reality" talk-show TV – Montel, Maury Povich, Sally-Jesse, Ricki Lake, and so on. Whether they had all synchronized their programming schedules or not, on this particular afternoon, every single one of them featured paternity suits. Has anyone here ever seen one of these? There's one woman versus two or three sweating, nervous guys all waiting to find out – thanks to the wonders of DNA testing – who was the ...

490. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

It's as the pastoral leader of a uniquely-gifted but high maintenance congregation that Paul addresses his remarks in this week's epistle text (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24). Paul's pastoral advice is both of a general nature applicable to all Christians (verses 16-18) and at the same time focuses on a particular issue pertinent to this congregation, the work of the Spirit as experienced through prophetic utterances (verses 19-22). Because much of what Paul says here has universal relevance commentators have ...

491. The Truth about Trouble

2 Timothy 4:16-18

Sermon

James Merritt

I want to confess that I am a Tarzan movie buff. I love all of the old Tarzan movies, especially the ones with Johnny Weismuller. Even though I have seen every alligator he has ever killed, every elephant he has ever called, and every vine he has ever swung from, I never get tired of watching his movies. I guess that's why this story is both so funny and so meaningful to me. It seems as if Tarzan was not himself, and Jane was very worried. It was apparent that Tarzan was developing a problem, a very ...

492. The Surety of Security

Jude 1:1-2

Sermon

James Merritt

The summer after I graduated from high school, I worked in a carpet factory. I met a very interesting man who, at one time, was a professional boxer. We got to talking about boxing and he said, "Do you know the two biggest mistakes boxers make?" I said, "No, what?" He said, "Number one: telegraphing their punches; and number two: failing to keep their guard up." The theme of the book of Jude is "Keeping Your Guard Up." This is the third smallest book in the New Testament, but it illustrates the truth that ...

493. Over And Over Again

Hebrews 10:11-18

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

Call To Worship One: Protect us, O God, for in you we take refuge. All: Let us say to the Lord,"You are our Lord; we have no good apart from you." One: Our delight is in those who share this fellowship with us. All: As a result we will not follow the example of those who worship the false gods of power, wealth, and prestige. One: The Lord is our chosen portion and our cup; God, you hold the keys. All: We are thankful for our heritage as your family, as members of the body of Christ. One: We bless God who ...

494. Floating on Your Back

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

Peter Hiett in his book Eternity Now! tells a wonderful story about a little girl named Mary who, against all odds, survived a hurricane. In October 1991, weather fronts over New England combined with the remains of a hurricane coming up the eastern seaboard to form what has become known as the Perfect Storm. A small boat, the Andrea Gail, carrying a father named John and his six‑year‑old daughter named Mary were caught in the storm. John had not checked the weather report when he and Mary sailed off the ...

495. On Time

Matthew 24:36-44

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Advent challenges us to develop and deepen our sense of timing. Timing is everything. Well, if not everything, then at least almost everything. An Italian priest, Giovanni Caselli, developed the first commercial fax system between Paris and Lyons in 1865. He called his mysterious invention the pantelegraph. But nobody got it. Nobody used it. Caselli was simply too far ahead of his time. So the pantelegraph sat about as an unused idea for the next century while it waited for the world to catch up. Think ...

496. Easter 3

Psalm 4:1-8, Luke 24:36b-48, Acts 3:11-26, 1 John 3:1-7

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter—Psalm 4:1 First Lesson—Peter boldly witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus to bring those responsible for his death to repentance and new life. Acts 3:12-19 Second Lesson—John writes of God’s love for children not yet perfect and in the process of purification. 1 John 3:1-7 Gospel—The Risen Christ appears to the disciples telling them of the fulfillment of the Scriptures in all that has occurred. Luke 24:36b-48 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. ...

497. Shame On Who?

John 8:1-11

Sermon

James Merritt

I recently came across an article in a Baltimore newspaper that was entitled, "Whatever Happened To Shame?"[[1]] The journalist who wrote this article made, I believe, a very astute and accurate observation. These are just some of his remarks. "Some of us remember when "shame on you" or "you ought to be ashamed of yourself" meant something. There was a moral obligation to feel shame and to direct it toward ourselves. I don't think this happens much anymore...Instead of feeling shame, we feel embarrassed, ...

498. Jesus: The Promise Received

Luke 2:10-14

Sermon

James Merritt

Jessica was four years old and she had had a perfect Christmas. She got all the presents she wanted. Her cousins were with her to share the holidays. She had eaten her favorite food all day long and as her mother tucked her in for bed she looked up at her at smiled and said, "Mom, I sure hope Mary and Joseph have another baby next year." After Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph did go on to have several other babies. However, the first baby born to Mary was not one that they had. It was one that Mary had by ...

499. Know Fear: The Fear of God

Proverbs 1:7

Sermon

James Merritt

I am concluding the series of messages we have entitled - fear factor. I am afraid fear may have gotten a bad rap, because some fear in life is good. In fact, some fear is even necessary. Small children need to be taught to be afraid of a hot stove or else they will be burned. As they get older, they need to be taught to be afraid of a busy street or else they may get hit by a car. As they become teenagers, they need to be taught to be afraid of driving a car too fast or they might be killed. The fear that ...

500. What Do I Do When I Can't Get Started?

Proverbs 6:6-11

Sermon

James Merritt

Today, I am going to deal with a problem that I freely admit that I have and I am absolutely convinced everyone has this problem to one degree or another. I am going to be honest with you. Sometimes, I have a problem with procrastination and starting tomorrow I am going to do something about it! The truth of the matter is everybody in this room has at least one thing that you haven't yet done in your life and the only reason you haven't done it is simply because you've procrastinated. I heard about two ...

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